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Clare Waight Keller is Leaving Givenchy

The French fashion house's first female creative director is departing the label after three years at the helm

By
Olivia Marrone

Apr 10, 2020

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It was announced today that designer Clare Waight Keller is leaving Givenchy. Recognized globally as the designer of Meghan Markle's wedding dress, Waight Keller's structured and chic aesthetic has left its mark on not only the French fashion house but the industry at large. The versatile designer was the first-ever female creative director of Givenchy, and her collections radiated empowerment and elegance.

"Focusing on a world based on Haute Couture has been one of the highlights of my professional journey," Waight Keller said. "I have shared so many incredible moments with the brilliant Givenchy ateliers and design teams: your exceptional talent and dedication will forever remain in my memories."

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Givenchy will announce a new "creative organization" at a later date. For its upcoming collections, the brand is planning a combined Cruise and runway men's collection for sale in June. Without a creative director and with factories closed due to the coronavirus, Givenchy has canceled its women's Cruise collection and will not produce its Fall/Winter 2020 Haute Couture collection.

Looking back at her design past, and present at Givenchy, we can only wonder where Waight Keller will head next. Prior to being the creative director at the French maison, Waight Keller had a pretty long fashion journey. After graduating from Ravensbourne College of Art and obtaining her master's degree at London's Royal College of Art, Keller headed to New York to work for Calvin Klein as a womenswear designer. After her stint there, she held positions at Ralph Lauren, Gucci, and Chloé. It was at the latter where she showcased her ethereal and feminine designs as creative director–the same themes she would later bring to Givenchy.

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With Chloé as her catapult into household-name status, becoming Givenchy's creative director solidified Waight Keller's as one of the industry's top designers. From creating Markle's bridal gown for her royal wedding to Prince Harry to bringing in fresh faces like Ariana Grande to front Givenchy, Waight Keller expanded the house's youthful energy left from previous Creative Director Ricardo Tisci. Honoring the maison's founder, the late Hubert de Givenchy, Waight Keller kept his less-is-more approach to fashion, designing simple garments that made statements through their impeccable tailoring and craftsmanship. In addition to this, Keller brought pure elegance to Givenchy's Haute Couture shows, where her collections combined her dream-like aesthetic with the chic cuts and structure that have been a staple aesthetic for the house. Waight Keller has not disclosed her next career move.

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